The Lonely Place Apart

When you think of the place,the place apartthink of Nova Scotia, of Maud Lewis paintingred and yellow tulips, butterflies and little black kittenson scallop shellsin the dry stagnant empty recess of winter.And this with two hands so crippled that one was required to rest on the other for support – overlapping as if in prayer.And this, her offering,with a smile that said, Here. Here is a part of my lonely place.

Darrin M. McCloskey,born and raised on Prince Edward Island, Canada, now teaches ESL in Vancouver. His poem is a meditation on Mt 14:13 and 22:14.